Tourist Run in Manchester

[Razouski]

I’m staying near my daughter for a few days in Manchester as she’s just about finished her degree. So realising this may be my last opportunity for a run up here, I was determined to get out and running before breakfast. My hotel (I decided to decline her offer to stay in her student house - my Young Ones days being long gone) is quite near one of Manchester’s many wonderful parks, so once I’d dragged myself out of bed and into my new running kit (pics are for you Flick) I was out the door and ready to run.

The sun greeted me as I exited the hotel driveway and although I had limited time, I knew this was going to be a good run. Turning the wrong way from the hotel I soon discovered Birchfields Park, a smaller park but still lovely, and I was soon running through a wooded glade edged with bluebells, over a lovely bridge and alongside a little bubbling stream, the sun glinting reflection coming off the water. Sometimes being rubbish at geography has its benefits. 😃

After running around and through this park I got my bearings and headed back past my hotel in the other direction and was soon at my intended destination, Platt Fields Park. This was another lovely surprise. I thought it was just a huge playing field, but I found a Cathedral archway, woodland, a church, pretty bridges over a river, and then I stumbled upon a big duck pond, with some geese who seemed rather bemused with me running past and then startled waddling alongside. There were moorhens, coots and mallards too.

I realised I was running out of time, I was only supposed to be out for half an hour and it was already 25 minutes gone and I wasn’t entirely certain of my route back. If I took too long to get back I was in danger of missing breakfast!!!! But I needed have worried and my entrance to the park came in view.

I put on a spurt - there’s no way I wanted to forego poppy seed and lemon muffins - and got back to the hotel at 42 minutes. I’d managed to cover nearly 8km and definitely felt ready for my muffin.

[misswobble Graduate10]

Lovely outfit 😃👍

Sounds a fabbo run. It’s great to explore new places. You came up trumps today. Breakfast sounds good too 😃👍🏃‍♀️

[Razouski in reply to misswobble]

Thanks, misswobble. The muffins in this place are well worth running a couple of extra km for. 😀

[Hidden]

What an idyllic run. And I LOVE the outfit. That top is to die for - not sure it would go with my shock absorber bra though. Love the leggings too! Well done for the run. i can only dream of running 8k in 42 minutes - takes me that long to run 5 ... x

[Razouski in reply to Hidden]

Glad you approve of the outfit. Not quite in your league but it’s better than my usual getup. 👍🏽

[ancientrunner Graduate10]

Great - hope you enjoyed your well earned breakfast.

[Razouski in reply to ancientrunner]

Totally enjoyed the breakfast, then hopefully burnt it off with a 6 mike walk with daughter in the Peak District.

[Nictwit]

You were going great guns! Pics look lovely. Big fan of those leggings!

[Razouski in reply to Nictwit]

Thanks, leggings were a treat from Next online. Relatively cheap and cheerful, and my daughter and I have been discussing if the pattern us based on the cannabis plant or not!!!!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Great post.. and great pikkie too What a super run

Loving the outfit too!!! My kind of running gear

[Razouski in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Oldfloss. Tourist running is like Heineken - I get to reach parts (of a place) others wouldn’t reach. 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Indeed, and they are wonderful...I love your posts

[Slinkymalinki Graduate10]

Lovely run, gorgeous gear! Nice to hear of joyful morning runs setting up the day.

[Razouski in reply to Slinkymalinki]

It set the day up really well. I was then out walking in the Peak District with my daughter who decided to do yoga every time we stopped for a breather. She is bonkers - post finals madness I think.

[Getfitok]

I used to go in Platt fields when I worked in Fallowfield many years ago 😊

[Razouski in reply to Getfitok]

It’s a lovely park. Manchester seems to be full of lovely parks. We also went walking through Fletcher Moss Gardens and down to the Mersey in the afternoon.